1996-2000 Chevy Blazer owners - Report in!

[MrBond]

My dad is insistant on my car being replaced before I start grad school (I do a lot of driving), a couple years ago, he bought a 1989 Chevy Blazer 2 door to turn into this, I got to drive it a little before we cut the top off and made it a convertible, but in that time I grew to love the ground clearance and power.

Fast forward to today, and I'm looking at Chevy Blazers on ebay motors. I don't really intend on buying one that way, because I have a "friend of a friend" in used cars who can get me a "deal". I see a nice, 1998 4 door blazer with 4WD and 109k miles (hey, that's 189k less than my oldsmobile, that's practically new!) that didn't sell for $5000 opening bid. Even better, the guy is in NW Indiana, and I happen to be in NC Indiana. I email the seller asking if it's still available, but I've gotten no response yet.

So while I'm sitting here bored, I hit up Epinions.com to check out reviews. Most people are happy with it, the complaints center around bad mileage (slightly worse than my 4banger oldsmobile, I'm willing to take the hit in mileage for 4WD and ground clearance) or power windows/locks failing (this blazer has manual locks/windows).

Next stop is google, I google for "1998 chevy blazer problems" and happen on a messege board at carsurvey.org. Here, EVERY comment but one is bad. And they're not "it gets horrible mileage", it's serious stuff, bad transmissions, bad fuel pumps, bad computers, etc.

I put more stock in the AT community then I do Epinions.com or a random messege board. So if you know someone/are someone who owned a 1996-2000 Chevy S10 Blazer, I want to hear the good/bad/ugly about your experience. I can only afford this with my parents helping out, so I'd rather not buy one, only to find out it's going to need $4000 in repairs.

I did run the carfax on this particular blazer, it's showing a clean title, BUT, it was titled as a rental vehicle initally. Is that something to worry about?

(I'm going to get a GM vehicle, probably a truck with the Vortec V6, because I know them like the back of my hand, there's no other option)

Cliff's Notes
I'm thinking about buying a 1996-2000 Chevy S10 Blazer. Tell me the good/bad/ugly about yours if you own one. No I won't get a honda/non GM vehicle

 

[NTB]

I had one that was a bit older than what you're looking at; I think it was a 1993. 4.3L V-6, 4x4, automatic, 4 door, power locks & windows. It was a good truck, but it did have a few problems. In the couple months that I had it (June 2002-Feb. 2003, at which point I totaled it ) The fuel injectors on the engine went bad, and it failed inspection because of an old muffler right after I got it. Other than that, it just had a few old-age problems: needed new ball-joints and shocks, and a new A-arm. Over all it was a good truck though, and I seriously wish I still had it. I wish I'd never tried to make that left turn :|

Nate

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

The REAL experts - unlike everyone on AT.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Yeah epinions is just going to have everyone that was upset with it. I have gone through at various points 3 Jimmys (wasn't mine, totalled, current one), none were ever driven over 40k though. Gas mileage is kind of weak. I feel they're a bit under powered. They're ok... not terrible, not particularly great either. The only reason I drive it is because I get special deals on Saturn, GMC, Buick, Pontiac. This just happened to be the car that combined what was affordable, spacious, and least fugly.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: GoodRevrnd
Yeah epinions is just going to have everyone that was upset with it. I have gone through at various points 3 Jimmys (wasn't mine, totalled, current one), none were ever driven over 40k though. Gas mileage is kind of weak. I feel they're a bit under powered. They're ok... not terrible, not particularly great either. The only reason I drive it is because I get special deals on Saturn, GMC, Buick, Pontiac. This just happened to be the car that combined what was affordable, spacious, and least fugly.

I'm not worried about power, ANYTHING would be better than the car I have now (I seriously can't pass semi's on two lane roads, I BARELY passed a schoolbus once).

I checked it out at Edmunds, it was mostly middle of the road from their ratings. I completly missed the forums there though, so I'll spend a little time there.

Any more opinions are welcome

 

[Bv3]

I have a 97 blazer with 90,000 miles on it. I bought it about a year ago with 75k miles. In that time the only problem I've had is that the air conditioning went out. I never got it fixed though because I don't really need it. No problems with the power windows and locks. It's not a sports car but it has decent power. The interior is very roomy and comfortable.

I would be concerned about buying a previous rental car. Nobody treats a rental as nice as they would their own car.

 

[Insidious]

I'm driving a '99 Blazer ZR-2. It has been a great little girlie truck for us (my son and I). 78K miles on it now only one problem.... every once in a while it will decide I am trying to steal it (misreads key security??) and I get to wait 10.... not 9.... not 11, but 10 minutes until the ignition and fuel systems are re-activated. It is really annoying.

The service dept insists this is a dirty key.... but I don't even remove the key from the ign. while I wait my 10 minutes. It has happened immediately following a very good key cleaning......

It doesn't happen very often and I don't know anyone else with this difficulty, and I would still heartily recommend this blazer if you don't haul more than a couple people around on a regular basis.

-Sid

 

[Paulson]

I have a 96 chevy blazer (LT) and so far like it.. I went from a chevy c1500 1990 truck that was a serious gas hog... this little thing has quite a bit of power, decent room inside, and what not...

I've got 135,000 miles on mine... it's got some underbody work that needs to be done (pitman arm, some other stuff) and the a/c unit has screwed up twice already (dealer fixed it for free because they said it worked when it didn't)

Other than that, the engine has been solid... I like it...

 

[MrBond]

Anyone else want to weigh in? Checked out edmunds last night and I'm feeling better about the Blazer already